Area
312,685 sq km (120,728 sq miles).
Population
38,610,000 (official estimate 2002).
Population Density
122.3 per sq km.
Capital
Warsaw.
Population: 1,609,800 (official estimate 2001).
Government
Republic since 1918.
Head of State: President Aleksander Kwasniewski since 1995.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Marek Belka since 2004.
Language
Polish is the official language. There is a small German-speaking community. English and Russian are also spoken.
Religion
More than 95 per cent Roman Catholic; other religions include Polish Autocephalous Orthodox, Russian and Greek Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim.
Time
GMT + 1.
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz; continental sockets.
Communications
Telephone
Full IDD is available. Country code: 48. Outgoing international code: 00. Cheap rate on long-distance calls is available from 1600-0600. Telephone cards can be purchased from post offices, newsagents and hotel receptions for local calls.
Mobile telephone
GSM 900 and 1800 networks cover the whole country.
Internet
ISPs include SuperMedia (website: www.supermedia.com.pl).
Telegram
Services are provided at all main post offices and by phone.
Post
Service to Western Europe takes up to four days. Poste Restante facilities are available at post offices throughout the country. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1800.
Press
Independent publications are flourishing following the changes in the political system; about 100 newspapers are now available. The principal dailies are Gazeta Wyborcza, Rzeczpospolita and Wprost. English-language publications include The Warsaw Voice (weekly).
Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.
Public Holidays
Jan 1 2005: New Year’s Day.
Mar 28: Easter Monday.
May 1: Labor Day.
May 3: National Day.
May 26: Corpus Christi.
Aug 15: Assumption.
Nov 1: All Saint’s Day.
Nov 11: Independence Day.
Dec 25-26: Christmas.
Jan 1 2006: New Year’s Day.
Apr 17: Easter Monday.
May 1: Labor Day.
May 3: National Day.
Jun 15: Corpus Christi.
Aug 15: Assumption.
Nov 1: All Saints’ Day.
Nov 11: Independence Day.
Dec 25-26: Christmas.
Special Events
For a full list, contact the Polish National Tourist Office (see General Info section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in Poland in 2005:
Jan 28-30: Ski-Jumping World Cup, Zakopane.
Feb: International Winter Kayaking Trip on the Brda River.
Mar 15-26: 9th Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival, Warsaw.
Apr 23-May 8: 12th Bydgoszcz Operatic Festival, Bydgoszcz.
May 1-3: Podkarpacki Tourist Fair, Przemyœl.
Jun-Aug: XIII Warsaw Summer Jazz Days.
Jul 3-Aug 28: XI Jazz in the Old Town International Outdoor Festival, Warsaw.
Sep 28-Oct 24: Chopin Piano Contest, Warsaw.
Nov: Masks International Theatrical Festival, Poznañ.
Dec: Nativity Scene Competition, Kraków. |
